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Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Vegan Chocolate Carob Chip Banana Pancakes

Choconana action before the morning commute?

Never a dull moment at the breakfast table, especially where chocolate is concerned.
I made these mouthwatering pancakes weeks ago, around the time I had checked out a whole bunch of Sylvia Plath books from the downtown library. A classmate asked, "why Plath? Are you depressed? She is always depressed, you know. In fact, she's hailed the Queen of Depression."
Was she? I find her to be a bit upbeat. Okay sometimes.
Maybe it's early phases of midlife crisis reaching out to swallow me whole or feeling under the bluesy chilled weather. School has been tough. Critiques have been bittersweet. Jack Frost is mean. Living and financial situations raise pivotal question. Ever since childhood, pancakes (pancakes not Plath) have made the world better. Just a little bit. I remember begging my mom every weekend to make pancakes. She would ask, "why? You can always only eat two. Two and a half at the most." So what if I can't handle a large stack? I still love pancakes. No matter what ingredients are lying around waiting to be combined. I didn't even care if it was generic mix and water. If they turned out golden brown and crisp, I still wanted to enjoy it with a fork and oodles of Mrs. Butterworth.
Now, I;ve grown up from Mrs. Butterworth.
As I mentioned yesterday, experiments with chocolate and bananas have proven to be fruitful. Yes, fruitful is the best adjective to describe it. No maple syrup or jam necessary. They were sweetened enough. Thanks to the topped goodness of firm, ripened bananas and delightful carob chips. ALl the taste buds can memorize is banana and chocolate. Banana and chocolate repeats. What's better than that.
Pancakes are not difficult to make. Whether it's the dawn's early light, the weekend, or even dinnertime, Choconana Pancakes deliver much needed bliss at any time too.
For added texture, walnuts, pecans, or toasted coconut flakes are great bonuses.

Add carob chips. Lastly, mix in the apple cider vinegar. In a medium heated skillet, add olive oil and ladle about 2 tablespoons of batter. Flip over when the pancake bubbles. Repeat the drill and stack.

Extra banana slices and carob chips make this a most beautiful display.

I never finished The Bell Jar. As for the pancakes- a big YES to that! With hot chai tea. Perfection.